Aiden stops beside me. I catch a glimpse of his hand slipping in his pocket before I concentrate on my notebook, gripping the pencil so hard, it almost breaks.
His body looms over mine like a grim reaper and his eyes burn holes at the top of my head.
A part of me wants to look up and glare back. Like I’ve done for the past two years.
But back then, I didn’t have the slightest clue of what he was capable of.
Now, I do.
After what seems like forever, he saunters to the vacant seat behind me. The seat I was saving for Kim.
She fidgets beside the only empty seat in the class. In front of Xander.
The latter gives her a taunting look as if daring her to sit.
“Ms Reed?” Mrs Stone’s impatient tone calls. “Is something the matter?”
“No,” Kim whispers.
“Then please take a seat so we can continue the class.”
Kim slides into her seat slowly as if afraid there’s a bomb waiting there.
Cole flashes a look behind him to Kim and Ronan winks at me from in front of me.
We’re surrounded by the enemy.
Chapter Eight
I try.
I really try to concentrate during class.
It’s impossible.
For one, Kim seems out of it, barely taking any notes. And it’s worrying me shitless.
For two, RES’s football team’s forward line surrounds us like a pack of wolves with the big bad wolf right behind me.
Aiden hasn’t said a word, but he doesn’t have to.
His presence can’t be mistaken even if he remains silent. I can feel his eyes digging a hole in the back of my head and feasting on my brain.
Mrs Stone starts talking about a preparatory test. I concentrate on her for the first time since the class started.
“You’ll perform a known script and add your special touch to it. The more creative you are, the more bonus points you will get.”
I love bonus points. It’s my perfect chance to build up my record for Cambridge.
“Can we pick who we perform with?” A girl at the front of the class asks.
“Partners will be chosen at random,” Mrs Stone says. “Swapping partners is prohibited.”
“Can we go solo?”
“Absolutely not,” Mrs Stone says. “This is to teach you team spirit. ”
Some whine softly while others snicker.